Umatilla Tribal Fire Department Mourns Loss of Capt. Mike Foster

MISSION – With profound sadness, the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department (UTFD) and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) announce the tragic loss of UTFD Capt. Mike Foster, who died Feb. 12 at his Pendleton home as a result of an accident.

Foster, 54, served with the UTFD for more than 15 years. Throughout his career, he showed great commitment to protecting the lives, health and safety of the CTUIR community and surrounding region by serving as a paramedic, fire service leader and mentor to numerous firefighters and EMS personnel.

UTFD Chief James Hall said Foster – known for his professionalism, compassion and leadership – played a vital role in strengthening emergency medical services and fire protection on the Umatilla Indian Reservation and surrounding communities.

“Captain Foster served his community with honor, integrity and unwavering dedication. He was not only an exceptional paramedic and leader but also a brother to all of us in the fire service,” Hall said. “His loss is deeply felt across our department, community and the many lives he touched throughout his lifelong career in fire/EMS. His service reflects a legacy of selflessness and commitment that will never be forgotten.”

CTUIR Board of Trustees (BOT) Treasurer Raymond Huesties, who is also a firefighter, said Foster was a friend who will be deeply missed.

“It has always been and will continue to be an honor and privilege to serve the community alongside such brave and dedicated people like Captain Mike Foster. He will be deeply missed on the fire scene as well as in the community,” Huesties said. “I have always considered him, and every first responder, as family members. I want to thank his family for sharing him with all of us to help protect and serve the CTUIR. Captain Mike Foster was my friend and brother in fire. I will miss him. Rest in peace, Captain Foster.”

BOT Trustee Corinne Sams also offered her condolences on behalf of the CTUIR Law & Order Committee to Foster’s family and the UTFD.

“We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Captain Mike Foster. We extend those condolences to Chief Hall and the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department. Captain Foster was a dedicated and proud Umatilla Tribal Fire Department firefighter who served our community with care and honor. We are forever grateful to Captain Foster for the work he so diligently carried out at the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department and his family who supported that work,” she said. 

The UTFD and CTUIR ask the community to keep Capt. Foster’s family, especially his fiancée, Elisa, in its prayers during this time of mourning.

Services for Foster – a native of Vancouver, Washington – are to be determined.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is comprised of the Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla Tribes, and formed under the Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Valley, 12 Stat. 945. In 1949, the Tribes adopted a constitutional form of government to protect, preserve and enhance the reserved treaty rights guaranteed under federal law.